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Wildfire Kills Two, Destroys 379 Homes; The Man Behind The NSA Scandal; Syria On U.S. Claims: "Full Of Lies"; Refinery Blast Under Investigation; Day Five Of Zimmerman Jury Selection; Heat Got Hot, Win Game Four; Younger Americans Ditch Credit Cards
Aired June 14, 2013 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, life and death inside the fire zone. Hundreds of homes lost, 41,000 people on the run, and the massive Colorado wildfire claims its first lives.
Dozens tossed into the water after a packed Miami area sports bar deck collapses. Now investigators are on the scene to figure out why.
Also she once fought off a pie-wielding attacker for him, but now Wendy Deng and Rupert Murdoch are calling it quits. We'll take a look at what could be a billion dollar divorce.
And young Americans are turning up their noses at credit card applications. Why the kids today are saying nah, they'll just pay in cash. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Good morning. I'm Brianna Keilar in Washington. Carol Costello has the day off.
In Colorado, the most destructive wildfire in state history is likely to grow even more ferocious today. This fire northeast of Colorado Springs has turned deadly with the discovery of two bodies. They may have been folks trying to escape an inferno that has destroyed hundreds of homes at this point. Its forced 41,000 people to evacuate.
CNN's Dan Simon is joining us from Colorado Springs. He has the latest there. Dan, do we know anything about the victims here?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know they were found in what we think was a garage. There was a car nearby, the doors were open. We think they were fleeing the fire and they just waited a bit too long, obviously a very heartbreaking situation. These are the only two fatalities that we have seen with this fire.
Of course, there's a fear as this fire progresses, you might see more fatalities. That's why they're telling everybody as soon as that evacuation order comes out, you really need to leave. In terms of what we're seeing right now, I have to tell you that the winds are fairly calm, the calmest we have seen since we got here on Tuesday night. The temperatures lower as well. Let's just hope the weather cooperates today because that's really the key in making a dent in terms of fighting this fire. You really have to have higher humidity. You got to have cooler temperatures and the winds need to be calm if firefighters are really going to make a dent in getting those containment levels up -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Dan, what's the biggest concern for residents and firefighters there today?
SIMON: The biggest concern is really keeping the fire away from Colorado Springs, where, you have a more densely populated area. Up until this point, the fire spread in a forest area, where you have homes on multi-acres of property lots of trees. So if the fire pushes into Colorado Springs then you have the potential work. It has the threat of a lot more homes. They want to make sure keep the fire away from these areas. Obviously, you have dozens of aircraft up there that will be coming up shortly. So the key is to contain the fire in those areas -- Brianna.
KEILAR: It is a tough fight against nature there in Colorado. Dan Simon for us near Colorado Springs.
A chance to watch their team, in the NBA finals turns into a nightmare for dozens of people at a Miami-area sports bar. About 100 people had packed the deck outside of Shuckers Bar & Grill on Thursday night when it collapsed sending many into Biscayne Bay. Dive teams and a helicopter had to be called in to search for the injured. There were two dozen people who were hurt. A few of them had serious injuries.
John Zarrella is outside of that sports bar. John, the deck behind you collapsed without warning.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brianna, no question about it, imagine, you're there. You're celebrating your team. You're jumping up and down. They just scored a bucket, and te next thing you know the floor is gone beneath you and you're suddenly in the water. You can probably see the photographers behind me, but the tables and chairs all collapsing, people collapsing underneath that debris.
Why are all these photographers shooting there? Well, the building inspector, structural engineers, they're down on the other side now and they are looking at this structure starting to try to get a handle on what might have gone wrong here. In fact, earlier today, an official with North Bay Village, the community in which this dock sits, in which Shuckers sits, was out on a Coast Guard patrol boat taking pictures from along the waterway of the collapsed dock.
So they're getting started quickly, trying to piece together what exactly happened here. But people who were inside the restaurant when all this happened did in fact say it happened almost instantaneously.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were sitting there, enjoying the view after our dinner. We heard people screaming. We didn't know where it was coming from.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were walking into the back area, and it was more of what we heard rather than what we saw. First we heard like a crack, and then it was within seconds that the whole deck had collapsed into the water.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: A couple of things that kept this from being a really much worse accident. One thing about a mile from here is an emergency rescue operations facility. So they were able to get here quickly. Dive teams able to get here very quickly. And if you take a look down here, and Dominick is going to pan over, you can see how shallow the water is. Fortunately the water here is very, very shallow. You can pretty much stand up right along the edge here where the deck collapsed so that made it easier certainly for people to stay above water and also for the rescue workers to get in there and get them occupy -- Brianna.
KEILAR: John, the biggest concern is the folks that were critically injured. Do we have any updates on the injuries and how severe they are?
ZARRELLA: You know, last update we had was that 24 people were transported with various injuries from cuts to some broken bones. The last report we also had is there were just two people that were still in serious condition, but that's not confirmed. Originally it was three in critical. Now we're being told two in serious condition. That's the latest information we have.
KEILAR: All right, John, we will continue to monitor that. Thanks for your report.
Now this morning Attorney General Eric Holder says U.S. security has been damaged by leaks about the U.S. surveillance programs. The man who leaked that NSA information, Edward Snowden, is still believed to be holed up in a safehouse in Hongkong. And China is keeping quiet about its position on Snowden.
The former CIA technical assistant has vowed to fight any extradition. Meanwhile, the British government is advising airlines worldwide not to allow him on flights to the United Kingdom. So what kind of person is Edward Snowden? I sat down with Manavee Anderson, who calls Snowden a close friend.
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MANAVEE ANDERSON, FRIEND OF EDWARD SNOWDEN: I felt at the time -- I felt like he was a close friend. I didn't know him for a very long period of time, but during the time when we were in close contact, I felt like that we opened up a bit to each other. And he is a very reflective, sort of self-reflective person, intro introspective.
EDWARD SNOWDEN, LEAKED INFORMATION ABOUT NSA SURVEILLANCE: I think that the public is owed an explanation of the motivations behind the people who made these disclosures that are outside the democratic model when you are subverting the power of government, that's a fundamentally dangerous thing to democracy.
KEILAR: He had a philosophy on government involvement in personal information? Is that where his disagreement was?
ANDERSON: I mean, I think there has been a lot of dialogue, at least among my friends, about executive power, especially over the last several years. Whether or not there's been any executive overreach. What sort of oversight there may or may not be over that community action and I think most people have an opinion on it one way or another.
SNOWDEN: I sitting at my desk, I certainly had the authority to wiretap anyone from you or your accountant to a federal judge, even the president if I had a personal e-mail.
KEILAR: Is he an exaggerator?
ANDERSON: I didn't find him to be an exaggerator when I knew him.
KEILAR: Does that sort of what he says, would you take that to the bank, or is that something you think may not quite hold water? Being able to wiretap the president if you had a personal e-mail?
ANDERSON: I don't know. I mean, I was surprised to hear him say that in the interview, but then I believed it when I heard him say it in the interview for whatever that's worth.
KEILAR: We actually know that from his interview with "The Guardian" and the article that they wrote on your friend, Ed, that he actually watches this program. He was watching this program at the time when he spoke with the paper in Hongkong. So if he is watching this right now, and knowing that you are here to be his friend, you've said that, you want him to know, as well as other people to know that he has friends, would you look at our camera and give him a message. What would you say to him?
ANDERSON: I mean, I would just saying, you know, that I'm worried about you and I hope you're well, and just know there are people who care about you. I don't necessarily condone your methods, but I still care about you, and if you get extradited to the U.S., I would be happy to serve on your defense.
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KEILAR: Mavanee Anderson knew of Snowden was friends with him during their time in Switzerland from 2007 to 2009, a time that Snowden has described as a turning point for him in changing his opinion about how the U.S. does gather intelligence.
Another story we're following, Syria on the defense this morning after the Obama administration for the first time says the Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people, the Syrian government slamming the claims saying they're, quote, "full of lies, and just a way to justified Obama's desire to support the rebels." The White House is now pledging to ramp up its support of the opposition. But exactly how the Obama administration will help the Syrian rebels? Well, that's still not known. So joining me now is Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark. He is the former NATO supreme allied commander and also a senior fellow at UCLA's Berkel Center for International Relations. Thanks, General, for being with me.
WESLEY CLARK, U.S. ARMY GENERAL (RETIRED): Thank you, Brianna.
KEILAR: So what really are the options here? It sounds like we know from the administration they're talking about very light arms, but at the same time leaving their options open for heavier artillery, which, as you know, a number of Republicans on Capitol Hill are calling for. What are they definitely doing and what do you think they are likely to provide to the rebels?
CLARK: Well, I don't think the decision has been announced yet as what they're definitely doing, beyond the idea of some lighter-weight arms, machine guns, handheld rockets, things like this, maybe some mortars, but once the United States enters as a provider of lethal force and becomes really engaged in this, then what it becomes in essence is a United States commitment, backed by the force of the United States government, including lethal aid to oust Bashar Assad.
That in turn leads to the idea of a proxy war. There are already Iranian elements in Syria. They're supporting Assad. The Russians are on the coast, maybe on the inside, so this is a very, very powerful step. But it's also a step that opens the way to diplomacy. Assad has completely forfeited any claim to morally remain in power by the use of those chemical weapons. That's simply inadmissible in the 21st Century.
Even in the darkest days of World War II, when the Soviet Union was about to be overrun by Nazi Germany, even the Soviets didn't use chemical weapons. It's just not permissible. He's used it. He's forfeited his moral authority. That in turn with the United States commitment to support more actively the rebels means that there's an opening now for diplomacy.
So I'm very hopeful that we'll proceed on two fronts. We'll be trying to aim -- to help the rebels, but giving them the weapons to resist more strongly, but also using Assad's failure in this respect to really empower diplomacy, and bring about the kind of negotiated diplomatic solution that's needed to stop the bloodshed there.
KEILAR: But, General Clark, how does the U.S. sort of walk that fine line? How does the U.S. government navigate trying to make sure that Assad goes while at the same time making sure the U.S. doesn't get sucked into another conflict in the region that we certainly know Americans, by large, will not support.
CLARK: Well, we've been in these positions before. As long as we're working on two tracks, we're in good shape. You can't run American foreign policy simply by public opinion because public opinion will usually lag a lot of these events. So there's got to be some amount of leadership here, and the leadership we're seeing coming from the White House. So providing the lethal aid, let the rebels have the power to stand and fight a little bit more effectively than they had, put the weight of the United States behind it, use the moral failure of the Assad regime and its use of chemical weapons to further discredit it, and then take all that package to the United Nations.
Get a U.N. Security Council resolution, get some diplomats out of the there to negotiate a way out for Assad, and then eventually get the fighting stopped through a ceasefire, separate the sides, get disarmament in there, and give these people a chance to have a country again.
KEILAR: General Wesley Clark, thanks for joining us, as we await to see the Obama administration's options they will pursue.
CLARK: Thank you.
KEILAR: Now in Louisiana, essential employees are work to work this morning. Grief counselors are also on hand at the refinery where a massive blast Thursday injured more than 75 workers. The 29-year-old Zachary Green was killed in that explosion. And in a statement this morning, officials with Plant Operator Williams said they're closely monitoring the condition of one employee and seven contractors who are still in the hospital.
Our Nick Valencia is outside of the plant in Geismar, Louisiana. Nick, what is the latest on this investigation?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, a company spokesman was supposed to meet us a short time ago, but he has yet to arrive, though, the company says they do have company representatives combing through the debris inside that plant behind me. They are trying to figure out what happened and why.
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TYRONE ELPHAGE, WITNESS: We were passing by on a delivery, saw big flames and ash shooting up, next we looked over the whole unit was engulfed in flames.
VALENCIA (voice-over): The flames are now out, the plant is secure, but the cause of the blast that sent fire shooting high above this small Louisiana community remains unclear.
JEFFREY WILEY, ASCENSION PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: The chemical that we think is involved is a highly volatile chemical, but it's not one that would leave the fence line one would think clearly. So we think we're OK in that regard.
VALENCIA: The blast killed at least one person and sent dozens more to the hospital with injuries. Even those who escaped unharmed were left dazed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boom! Like that. Everybody started taking off running, chaos, jumped the fence, jumped the tables, went through the grass, buses running over people, and going everywhere. VALENCIA: At a nearby Baton Rouge hospital doctors and nurses treating the injured.
LEIGH ANN, NURSE: Just that looked on people's faces the patients were just shell shocked. You know you talk to people as you take them out of the helicopter and one man said, we didn't even know what happened. We heard a loud boom and the next one was so loud I felt like my chest was going to cave in.
VALENCIA: While investigators continue to assess what happened here Thursday, Louisiana's governor tried to reassure those affected.
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: Absolutely once the investigations are done, once there's a responsible party, they'll absolutely be held responsible.
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VALENCIA: The majority of those victims taken to the hospital have been released. We expect more to be released today. A couple new details to share with you, Brianna, I just spoke to the police and they say -- just a short time, bus loads of employees will go back to collect their belongings. The company also tells me they will have a 1:00 p.m. Eastern press conference to give us more details -- Brianna.
KEILAR: All right, Nick, we will follow that. Nick Valencia for us in Geismar, Louisiana.
We'll tell you why younger Americans are saying they would rather pay in cash.
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KEILAR: Checking top stories now, Colorado's massive wildfires have destroyed 379 homes, damaged nine others as the Black Forest fire continues to rage. Right now, the forecast holds little hope for firefighters as high temperatures and winds are expected to return.
And inspectors are trying to determine how the deck of a Miami sports bar collapsed and sent more than 100 people into the water below. More than 20 people were hurt, some of them seriously. A waitress told CNN affiliate WFOR that the deck gave way just as everyone stood to cheer on the hometown Miami Heat as they played in last night's NBA finals.
It is day five of juries selection in the trial of George Zimmerman. The judge in the case says the men and women of the jury will be isolated during the trial, which could last up to a month. Zimmerman is accused of killing unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in a shooting last year. Zimmerman claims that it was self-defense.
In sports the Miami Beat's big three picked a good time to get hot. Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Chris Bosh scored a combined 85 points in game four of the NBA finals. The Heat beat up on the San Antonio spurs 109-93. The series is now tied at two games apiece. Turning now to your money, younger Americans are taking a look at those credit card application and they are saying no, thank you, opting instead for debit cards or prepaid credit cards. Christine Romans is following the trend in New York.
Christine, this is interesting, because I remember when I was in college, that's where I got my first credit card, and you were kind of all the time you had credit card companies trying to get you to apply. Why is this group different?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Congress short of shut that down, too, remember with the card act? If you were a young person, you had to be 21 and you have to prove that you'll be able to pay it back. That's one reason why kids aren't taking out more cards. Also they have high unemployment.
They've of the got student loans so they're being more frugal in taking out the cards, either because they can't get them or they have seen the problems. High unemployment, student loans, maybe fewer big purchases, delaying a purchase of a home or a card, so any don't need the credit history right now, so what does it this mean? It means their credit score is actually getting better.
You hear this all the time about be careful, you want to make sure you have credit cards. Really the best thing is to have a couple credit cards to use them, pay them off, to make sure you always pay on time. Ironically their parents, the 60 and older group, they're not paying off -- their credit score is actually getting worse.
So we also know in terms of how many credit cards young people have, they have a lot fewer than they used to. In 2007, 8 percent had no credit cards. Today 16 percent have no credit cards at all. That's something that really surprised me. 18 to 29-year-olds without credit cards, 16 percent don't have one -- Brianna.
KEILAR: Wow, unbelievable. I look back I think I got my first one when I was 17. Luckily I was responsible, but man, I could have gotten into trouble with that.
ROMANS: They really pushed them for a long time. I think the pendulum has swung the other way. I don't want to get into trouble.
KEILAR: That's right. Being responsible and also being forced to be responsible. Christine Romans for us, thank you so much.
Now Exxon Mobil is being sued because of the oil pipeline spill in a suburban Arkansas neighborhood, but hear what else the oil giant is accused of.
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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When this small tech company began in Kansas, one of the founders, Dan Carol, knew he needed virtually no permanent staff, just talented temporary workers hired when needed and ready to embrace a new professional mantra.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess sort of the idea the job you create for yourself is the most stable you could have.
FOREMAN: He's not alone. One business study estimates they are already more than 17 million Americans who no longer work for companies, but sell their skills day by day. That number could jump to 23 million in the next few years.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, freelancing is happening everywhere.
FOREMAN: At the Freelancers Union in New York, the founder, Sarah Horowitz knows all about it.
SARA HOROWITZ, FOUNDER, FREELANCERS UNION: They're just putting together a bunch of projects and they work in fields ranging from being a doctor to a programmer to being a nanny.
FOREMAN: Not much like a traditional union, her group helps its members to take on the tasks that employers used to managing, networking for the next job, marketing their skills, and the toughest part, managing health care. She says group members get insurance for 40 percent less that it would cost them individually and for all the headaches --
HOROWITZ: Because they don't work that 9 to 5, they can be home and still do the things they love.
FOREMAN: And she suspects many freelancers are feeling more free because they left of everyday office behind. Tom Foreman, CNN, Kansas City.
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